PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Providence man who was sought on a federal arrest warrant for allegedly violating the terms of his release while awaiting trial on a federal firearm charge was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday with forcibly resisting arrest by a Deputy United States Marshal.

United States Attorney Peter F Neronha announced the indictment of twenty-one year old Eric Valdez, who is charged with forcibly resisting arrest by a Deputy United States Marshal, a member of the Violent Fugitives Task Force.

According to the Indictment and information presented to the Court, Eric Valdez was free on unsecured bond while awaiting trial for one count of possession of a stolen firearm and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number when, on several occasions, he allegedly violated the terms of his release. An arrest warrant was issued after it was alleged by the U.S. Probation Department that the defendant tested positive for marijuana on multiple occasions, failed to actively seek employment, and failed to attend mental health and substance abuse treatment.

On July 7, 2011, five members of the Violent Fugitives Task Force - three Deputy U.S. Marshals and two members of the Rhode Island State Police - tracked Valdez to a Providence apartment where he was arrested following a physical confrontation with law enforcement agents. Valdez was ordered detained by Magistrate Judge David L. Martin. He is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday on the indictment before Magistrate Judge Martin.

An Indictmentis merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Valdez faces up to 96 months in federal prison; 3 years supervised release and a $250,000 fine.